Pattaya, Chonburi Province – Officers from Immigration Police Division 3 (Immigration Bureau Region 3) conducted a raid on March 11th, targeting a residence in central Pattaya, leading to the arrest of a Chinese national suspected of running an online operation selling nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas”, along with illicit substances and vape products commonly called “Zombie Pods” laced with dangerous drugs.
Pol. Col. Parinya Klin-Kesorn, spokesperson for Immigration Police Division 3, stated that the operation stemmed from intelligence gathered by investigators from the Division’s Special Investigations Unit. Informants reported that a Chinese man was using online platforms to sell nitrous oxide (N₂O, or laughing gas) and other controlled substances to local teenagers and young adults.
The raid aligns with directives from Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumast Boonyalaksami, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureauu, focusing on intensified crackdowns on transnational crime and ensuring Thailand is not used as a base for illegal activities by foreigners.
Following surveillance, officers set up a controlled purchase, ordering one tank of laughing gas online for 2,400 baht. A motorcycle delivery arrived at the suspect’s residence, and when the Chinese man emerged with the delivery box, officers identified themselves and took him into custody. A thorough search of the premises followed.
Authorities seized a significant haul of contraband, including:
– One unlicensed .38 mm short-barreled pistol (TAUROS brand)
– 58 rounds of 9 mm ammunition
– 11 rounds of .38 mm ammunition
– 2 rounds of .380 ammunition
– 3 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition
– One Glock magazine
– 30 vape pod cartridges (“pot ke” or “K-pod” items called zombie pods by many locals)
– 17 tanks of nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
During initial questioning, the suspect admitted to ownership of the seized items.
He now faces multiple charges, including:
– Selling modern medicine without authorization (nitrous oxide/laughing gas)
– Possessing a firearm and ammunition without a permit
– Possessing and distributing Category 2 narcotics without authorization (etomidate, commonly referred to as “pot ke” when mixed into vape pods)
Nitrous oxide, while legally used in medical, food, and industrial applications, is prohibited for recreational sale in Thailand under the 1967 Medicine Act (and related narcotics regulations), with penalties of up to five years imprisonment and fines. Etomidate, a short-acting anesthetic used medically, has emerged as a dangerous additive in illicit “zombie vape” or “K-pod” products, causing severe neurological depression, dissociation, and other life-threatening effects when abused recreationally.
The arrested suspect and all evidence have been transferred to Pattaya City Police Station for further legal proceedings. Authorities plan to expand the investigation to identify any accomplices or networks operating domestically and internationally.
